Just when Betsy Taylor think she’s adjusted to her after-life as a vampire queen, fate intervenes. It’s bad enough having to view your own grave-stone but now Betsy’s even started seeing dead people – an assortment of demanding ghosts who are determined to make her do their bidding. Betsy also has some personal stuff to deal with – not least of which is planning her Spring – and Midnight – wedding to Sinclair. Meanwhile her half-sister is starting to display signs of inheriting her real mother’s temper. And when your mother’s the devil, that’s cause for concern._______________________________________________________________________________

“See, things started out innocently enough—a visitor, a comment, finding out a new vampire rule—and the next thing I know, I’m up to my tits in undead politics, or attempted revolutions, or dead bodies.”

My Review

The Undead series is still very entertaining, although sometimes I have to turn back the pages to recall what had happened? It is not boring, but still, the story is about only the daily life of Betsy and her housemates.

Let’s see in details!

Meanwhile Betsy’s lovelorn admirer, the ex-blade-warrior-now-a-biography-writer Jon is writing the not so fictional biography of Betsy, she babysits her brother, BabyJon, contributes to the new vampire newsletter, and she is planning the first vampire monarch wedding of all time – with her openly reluctant fiancé, Eric Sinclair.

The author gives a hint about a serial killer at the beginning of the novel, so I hoped for some excitement, and maybe a connection between the murderer and Betsy, but nope… He is just an ordinary serial killer, with no awareness neither Betsy nor the vampire society. So no threatening conspiracy or coup by him.

Betsy and Eric have a crisis, and fight after fight.

“Wait a minute, wait a minute.” Jessica made the time-out sign. “You made up after your other fight, but now you’re fighting again?”
I nodded miserably.
“You guys. Seriously. I really think you should get married already—talk about prewedding jitters! You’re tearing each other apart!”

My heart ached for Eric, and I could feel his fear. Actually, I’m wondering what would happen if Betsy simply commanded Eric to bear that certain ability as she does. Remember, as she had managed to make him able to see ghosts in Undead and Unemployed.

While the plot is lame, and nothing groundbreaking or unexpected happens, Ms. Davidson smartly builds the tension and mystery of her characters.

The appearance of the old and the new secondary characters are well-balanced. I’m very satisfied with the additional information about Jess. She finally dates, and it turns out that she actually has a job. Jon and Nick are back, George shows some development, Laura and her snaps are more and more interesting and creepy, and I’m looking forward to reading more about Cathy.

Today here is a quote fromUndead and Unreturnable by MaryJanice Davidson.

“That’s great. I’d – I’d really like to stay here.” He glanced around the ancient staircase. “It looks interesting. Like something out of an old book.”
“Yeah, interesting. Hope you like dust. But listen, we’ve got a feral killer vampire living in the basement, so don’t go down there. Oh, and if you drink all the milk, you have to replace it.”

As a world-ending war surges around them, Todd and Viola face monstrous decisions. The indigenous Spackle, thinking and acting as one, have mobilized to avenge their murdered people. Ruthless human leaders prepare to defend their factions at all costs, even as a convoy of new settlers approaches. And as the ceaseless Noise lays all thoughts bare, the projected will of the few threatens to overwhelm the desperate desire of the many. The consequences of each action, each word, are unspeakably vast: To follow a tyrant or a terrorist? To save the life of the one you love most, or thousands of strangers? To believe in redemption, or assume it is lost? Becoming adults amid the turmoil, Todd and Viola question all they have known, racing through horror and outrage toward a shocking finale.
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My Review

Monsters of Men isn’t that bad. There are a lot of excitements in it, so reading this book was really refreshing after the second volume.

The Story (Spoiler Degrees: 1)The story continues exactly after the ending of the previous volume. There are many battles and bloodsheds in Monsters of Men. The plot is exciting and full of twists. I really liked it.

In this volume there are three main viewpoints: Todd’s, Viola’s and a Spackle’s whose name is 1017. I like the latter the most. I find him very interesting and special.It’s good to hear the events from his viewpoint. First his manner of speech was a little bit weird, but then I get accustomed to it. The names what the Spackles use for themselves, the people and individual persons are strange, but actually I like it.

The broil continues between Prentiss and Coyle, but they can’t easily influence Todd and Viola yet. I hate that they rather rough each other up than accept the thought of peace.

The ending of the story… well… what can I say. It’s not a big deal. Actually Ness gave me the jitters, and I wanted to throw the book to the corner when… you’ll see, why…

The Characters (Spoiler Degrees: 2)At one third of the book I realized why I didn’t like the second volume: I couldn’t like anyone in it.

I fundamentally don’t like the two main characters, and The Ask and the Answer is about them only. Fortunately, in Monsters of MenI have a new favorite: 1017. 🙂 Okay, I know he already appeared in the second book, but you can really know him only in this volume.

Todd and Viola aren’t irritating so much in this book. I think they started to grow up. Hallelujah!

There are two new characters: Simonne and Bradly. I don’t know what to feel or think about them. The author couldn’t ingratiate the characters with me.

I’m sooooo happy because of Source. I’m glad that he’s alive. I’d wanted to clap, and cheer, and jump when he appeared.

ThoughtsAll in all, I don’t regret reading this series, but I don’t think I will reread it ever. It’s not a bad series; just it hasn’t reached the appropriate effect on me.

CoverFirst I didn’t like it. It is the worst of all the covers of the three books. But after I finished the book, I think it fits the story. This sequel is full of fire exactly as the cover implies it.